Flexible shaft coupling



Feb. 2, 1932. K. DAVIS FLEXIBLE SHAFT COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 23, 1930 @ttor/v1 m o` Patented Feb. 2, 1932 i UNITED j sTATEsPATENT OFFICE KENNETH DAVIS, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoE ToPENN MACHINE c OIIPANY, E JoHNSTowN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION orPENNSYLVANIA y FLEXIBLE SHAFT coUPLING Application led June 23,

vThe invention aims to'provide an excep- I tionallyY simple andinexpensive, yet an efficient, noiseless and long-lived coupling'forconnecting two shafts with each other-and for driving one fromtheothereven though said'shafts may `have oset misalignment,

. angular misalignment, or both, and a further object is; to provide for.amply strong, uniform-area, driving connections between the shafts,regardless of the constantly varying relative positions of couplingparts when in use.

With the foregoing in View, the invention resides inthe novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on line 1--1 of Fig. 2. u .Figs 2 is aofFigl. l

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrams showing-the transverse section on line 2-2Amanner in which' the coupling compensates for offsetl misalignment,angular 1nisalign- Avmenu-and both, respectively.

lrims-'8 and-9 respectively. yThese rims are provided with transverse,alined, fiat-sided groovesv 10 and 11 respectively which are spaced.apart circumferentially thereof, rectangular blocks 12 being snuglyreceived in the grooves V1,0-and similar b locks 13 snugly receivedinthegrooves 11, all of said blocks f however being adapted to slidetransversely of the rims 8 and 9 (longitudinally of the coupling)Y to alimitedv extent. The outer sides Vof the blocks 12 and 13 are eachprovidedwith a concavesocket of substantially hemispheri'cal form, thesockets ofthe blocks 12 being denoted at l14 and those of the blocks 13being shownat 15. Y

1A ring 16 surrounds the rims .8 and 9 and 1930.V Serial No. 463,210.

is spaced outwardly from saidrims to a slight extent, the innerperiphery of this ring 16 boing provided with a plurality of transverse,iatsided grooves 17, each of which is disposed opposite two of thealined grooves 10 driving connections between the hubs 6 and n 7 and thering 16 in all relative positions of parts, and these drivingconnections are sufficiently strong to meet the requirements of anyindustry.

Two side rings 21 are secured by bolts or the like 22 to the oppositeedges of the ring 16, said vrings 21 projecting inwardly from said ring16 in contact with the ends of the blocks 18. These rings however arespaced sufficiently from the blocks 12 and 13 to allow sliding of thelatter during operation of the coupling, should the shafts have offsetmisalignment (Fig. 3), angular misalignment (Fig. 4), or both (Fig. 5).

To insure Smooth and silent operation, I prefer to providecircumferentially spaced compression springs 23 and 24. The springs 23pass through openings 25 in the rim 9 and at their inner ends abut theinner side of the rim 8. .The springs 24 pass through similar openings26 in rim 8 and at their inner ends abut the inner side of rim 9. Theouter ends of the springs 23 and 24 react against the rings 21 and theythus exert a force tending to move the two hubs 6 and 7 longitudinallyVaway from each other. The hubs cannotof course move under the influenceof thesprings when keyed to shafts and the pressure exerted by thesprings then absorbs shocks and causes I smooth and silent operation ofthe coupling.

The outer ends of the springs 23 and 2 4 preferably receive and abutshoulders on metalplugs 27. These plugs are socketed to engage thepointed inner ends of adjusting screws 28 threaded through the rings 21,said screws having nuts 29 for locking them after side, balls jointlyreceived in the sockets of the inner and outer blocks, and two siderings secured to the rst named ring and projecting inwardly therefrom incontact with the ends of said long blocks and in s aced relation withsaid rims, said grooves, blocks, sockets and balls constantlymaintaining uniformarea driving connections between said hubs and ringin all relative positions of parts.

8. A structure as specified in claim l; together with spring meansspaced apart circumferentially of the coupling, said sprinr means actingin opposite directions on sai ring, in one direction on one of said hubsand in the other direction on the other of said hubs, all of saiddirections extending longitudinally of the coupling.

9. A flexible shaft coupling comprising two hubs disposed end to end andeach having a peripheral rim at its inner end, said rims being providedwith circumferentially spaced openings out of alignment with each other,

, a ring surrounding said rims, two side rings secured to the firstnamed ring and projecting inwardly therefrom into opposed spacedrelation with the remote sides of said rims, coiled compression springsreceived in the aforesaid openings of said rims and at their outer Vendsre-acting against said side rings, the inner ends of said springsbearing against the adjacent inner sides of said rims, and ball andsocket connecting means between said rims and the first named ring,embodyin portions slidable longitudinally of the coup ing.

l0. A flexible shaft coupling comprising two hubs arranged end to end, aring member surrounding said hubs and spaced out 'wardly therefrom, anda iiexible connection between said ring member and said hubs comprisingballs and slidable blocks having sockets in which said balls areengaged, said flexible connection maintaining uniform area drivingconnection between the hubs and the ring in the presence of eitherangular or parallel misalignment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

KENNETH DAVIS.

